Judy Garland‘s indelible portrayal of Dorothy Gale, the teenage heroine of “The Wizard of Oz,” has been top of mind since the release of “Wicked” last fall. Online speculation has been rampant on how exactly Dorothy might feature in “Wicked: For Good,” with Garland centered squarely in that discussion. Because, after all, it was her voice that gave generations a wistful anthem (and potentially a Pride flag).
How do you honor such a legend?
West Hollywood, California, has clicked up one way. On June 10, 103 years after her birth, WeHo will mark Judy Garland Day, a new annual celebration hosted by the city’s Chamber of Commerce. The event will be held in conjunction with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Beaches Tropicana, a club located on Santa Monica Boulevard in the city’s popular Rainbow District.
“This ceremony reflects our commitment to honoring cultural icons who have influenced the creative identity of our city and the LGBTQ+ community,” Chamber CEO Genevieve Morrill said. “Through this celebration, we recognize Judy Garland not just as a legendary performer but as a significant figure in the arts.”
The festivities will include a panel discussion featuring Garland’s son Joey Luft, granddaughter Vanessa, perfumer Vince Spinnato (who created the unisex “Judy” fragrance), author Meredith Ponedel, collector Woolsey Ackerman — who will provide an exhibit of Garland costumes and memorabilia — and actress Margaret O’Brien, who played Garland’s little sister in “Meet Me in St. Louis.”
Morrill said its no accident that the event coincides not just with Garland’s birthday but also Pride Month. West Hollywood, which hosted its Pride Parade on June 1, is in the midst of its weeks-long celebration.
“The chamber believes that celebrating Garland during Pride Month creates a powerful connection, reinforcing our values of inclusivity and unity,” Morrill explained. “We are excited to commemorate her legacy and the vibrant spirit of our community during this special occasion, further enhancing West Hollywood’s reputation as a hub of creative meetings and events.”
Garland’s life has long been associated with the gay rights movement, with some even crediting the star’s New York funeral — which occurred on June 27, 1969 — with helping to catalyze the Stonewall Riots that occurred that night. RuPaul once said that the Stonewall protestors “used their grief over Judy’s death to rise up and fight back,” though it should be noted that this has been debated and that the timing might’ve just been coincidental.
Garland died of an accidental overdose on June 22, 1969, at only 47. Her life had long been marred with addiction, career, personal, and financial issues, but her frequent comebacks cemented her status as a kind of vulnerable warrior. Her electric concert performances, dramatic performances in films like “A Star is Born” and “Judgement at Nuremberg,” as well as her string of a hit musicals in the ’40s — “Easter Parade,” “The Harvey Girls,” and “Summer Stock” among them — made her one of culture’s most enduring icons.
But her Dorothy, which was captured when she was 17 in 1939, has been her greatest legacy. She closed nearly every concert with “Over the Rainbow.”
“The whole premise of the song is a question. A quest. At the end, it isn’t, ‘Well, I’ve found my world and I am a success and you and I will be together.’ The lyric is having little bluebirds ‘fly over the rainbow. Why, oh, why can’t I?’ It represents everyone’s wondering why things can’t be a little better,” Garland told reporters at a 1967 press conference.
As for her legions of gay fans, who found commonality in her struggles, Garland welcomed them with open arms.
“I couldn’t care less. I sing to people,” she said at a 1965 San Francisco press conference. In another interview years later, she added, “I’ll be damned if I’ll have my audience mistreated.”
Click here to RSVP to Judy Garland Day, which kicks off at 4 p.m. on June 10 at Beaches Tropicana in West Hollywood, California.
